Microphone for magnetic recording device having a detachable remote control switch



June 28, 1966 J. l. DE HAAN 3,258,544

MICROPHONE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICE HAVING A DETACHABLE REMOTECONTROL SWITCH Filed Feb. 4, 1965 :---1nnmum I Flsf INVENTOR.

JACOB I. DE HAAN United States Patent Filed Feb. 4, 1965, Ser. No.430,404 4 Claims. (Cl. 179-179) The invention relates to amicrophone-remote control switch combination for a portable magneticrecording device.

When such a magnetic recording device is used for reporting purposes, itis preferable that the microphone can be placed in the reporters breastpocket, where it is held by a clamping member secured thereto. For theoperation of the magnetic recording device, a switch is required whichis held in the reporters hand. A microphone provided with a detachableswitch is required since the switch in the breast pocket is notaccessible.

According to the invention, a microphone remote control switchcombination for a portable magnetic recording device is constructed sothat the switch is secured in a manner so as to be readily detachable tothe microphone housing. This switch is provided with a cable having apair of conductors connecting it with the magnetic recording device. Theswitch cable is separable from the microphone cable. Consequently, whenthe switch is connected with the microphone, the combination may beutilized in the usual manner. If, however, the magnetic recording deviceshould be used for reporting purposes,

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tape recorder (not shown). In order to secure the switch housing 3 tothe microphone housing 1, the upper end of the switch housing isprovided with a projecting plug 5 (FIG. 4) which may be passed into aniche 6 in the shoulder 6a of the microphone housing; moreover, theother end of the switch housing 3 is provided with a locking deviceconsisting of a pair of L shaped fingers 7 which fit into correspondingslots 8 in the microphone housing. Thus when housing 3 is moved in a,longitudinal direction, fingers 7 fit into grooves 8 provided at thelower end of the microphone housing 1. In order to reduce the 7 risk ofunintentional detachment, the switch housing 3 has the switch isdetached from the microphone by a simple I manipulation and the twocables are separated so that it is possible to accommodate themicrophone in the reporters breast pocket and the switch in his hand orcoat pocket.

In amicrophone remote control switch combination according to theinvention, the microphone and the switch cables are bound together bymeans of several clamping devices distributed throughout their lengthsso as to be readily separable.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of' the microphone switch combinationaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the same combination,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the combination viewed from below,

FIG. 4 shows the combination in the operating position in which theswitch is detached from the microphone, and

FIG. 5 shows in side elevation and in plan view a clamping device whichserves to secure the two conductors to each other so as to be readilydetachable.

As appears from the drawing, the microphone housing 1 has an elongated,conical form which is truncated at its lower end, the microphone grid 2is located at the upper end thereof. A relief 1a is provided in themicrophone housing which receives a switch housing 3 constituted by anapproximately axis-parallel longitudinal section taken from a part ofthe microphone housing, i.e., the section does not extend the length ofthe housing. The relief 1a defines a shoulder 6a against which switchthe housing abuts. The switch housing 3 accommodates the switch button 4for controlling normal forward movement of the 'a protuberance 9 whichsnaps into a recess 10 of the microphone housing 1. The microphonehousing 1 is provided with a clamping device 11 for accommodation in abreast pocket.

A cable 12 connects the microphone 2 with the magnetic recording device(not shown), while a corresponding cable 13 connects the switch with therecorder. These two cables (containing suitable conductors andinsulation as is well known) are connected with each other by means ofseveral clamping devices 14 distributed throughout the length of eachcable so as to be readily separable. The shape of the clamping devicesis shown in FIG. 5 which also illustrates that the two cables may belaterally passed into the clamping devices until they are held by thespring force of these clamping devices which are made of resilientsynthetic substance. 7 In the embodiment shown, the two cables 12 and 13terminate in a known plug 15, but of course it is also possible to useanother kind of known connection.

What is claimed is:

1. A microphone for a tape recorder comprising a discrete microphonehousing member, a first cable connected with said microphone housingmember and operatively coupled with said microphone, a discrete switchhousing member having a switch means integral therewith, a second cableconnected with said switch housing member and operatively coupled withsaid switch means, said microphone housing having an exterior closedrelief portion integral therewith for receiving said switch housing, andquick release latching means having slideably cooperable parts connectedwith both said housing members including said relief portion forremovably attaching said switch housing on said microphone housing insaid relief whereby said switch is operable both when connected with andseparated from said microphone housing member and plug connecting meansconnected with both said cables for coupling said cables with 'a taperecorder.

2. A recording microphone comprising a microphone housing, said housinghaving a generally frusto-conical configuration, a microphone at thebase end of said configuration, an elongated closed relief in saidhousing extending from the apex end of said configuration in alongitudinal direction and terminating in spaced relation relative tosaid base end, a shoulder in said housing defined by the terminal end ofsaid relief, a switch housing member removably receivable in saidrelief, said switch housing having a configuration fairing into saidrelief and the configuration of said microphone housing and quickrelease latching means having slideably cooperable parts connected witheach said housing'member for removably attaching said switch housing insaid relief, and a pair of discrete cables one of which extends fromsaid switch housing and the other from said microphone housing.

3. A recording microphone according to claim 2 wherein said latchingmeans comprises a niche in said shoulder, a projection at one end ofsaid switch housing receivable in said niche, a pair of shaped slots inthe apex end of said microphone housing, and correspondingly shapedfingers projecting from said switch housing for slideably fitting intosaid slots.

4. A recording microphone according to claim 2 with the addition ofmeans for removably clamping said con ductors together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS KATHLEEN H.CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

0 IRVING L. SRAGOW, ROBERT H. ROSE, Examiners.

L. A. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MICROPHONE FOR A TAPE RECORDER COMPRISING A DISCRETE MICROPHONEHOUSING MEMBER, A FIRST CABLE CONNECTED WITH SAID MICROPHONE HOUSINGMEMBER AND OPERATIVELY COUPLED HAVING A SWITCH MEANS INTEGRAL THEREWITH,A MEMBER HAVING A SWITCH MEANS INTEGRAL THEREWITH, A SECOND CABLECONNECTED WITH SAID SWITCH HOUSING MEMBER AND OPERATIVELY COUPLE WITHSAID SWITCH MEANS, SAID MICROPHONE HOUSING HAVING AN EXTERIOR CLOSEDRELIEF PORTION INTEGRAL THEREWITH FOR RECEIVING SAID SWITCH HOUSING, ANDQUICH RELEASE LATCHING MEANS HAVING SLIDEABLY COOPERABLE PARTS CONNECTEDWITH BOTH SAID HOUSING MEMBERS INCLUDING SAID RELIEF PORTION FORREMOVABLE ATTACHING SAID SWITCH HOUSING ON SAID MICROPHONE HOUSING INSAID RELIEF WHEREBY SAID SWITCH IS OPERABLE BOTH WHEN CONNECTED WITHSAID SEPARATED FROM SAID MICROPHONE HOUSING MEMBER AND PLUG CONNECTINGMEANS CONNECTED WITH BOTH SAID CABLES FOR COUPLING SAID CABLES WITH ATAPE RECORDER.